Pubdate: Sat, 14 Mar 2009
Source: Sonoma Valley Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2009 Sonoma Valley Sun
Contact:  http://sonomasun.thmm.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4881
Author: Walter Williams
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

PLANNING COMMISSION DEALS RESIDENTIAL RENTALS AND CONSIDERS CANNABIS

An extensive report on regulations for a medical marijuana dispensary
was presented by David Goodison, Sonoma City Planner. Concerns include
adopting setbacks from schools and parks, maintaining security for the
hash, limiting its potency, restricting the number of patients, and
determining the agency in charge for reviewing applications and
granting permits.

John Sugg, who has operated a cannabis club dispensary in Santa Rosa
for four years, voiced his concern on that latter issue. "Most of the
ordinance is strong and necessary," he said. "But I have a concern
with putting the police chief in charge of managing applications and
granting permits. It makes more sense to have that be the city
manager. Also, you must allow for plenty of parking because that's
where the problems happen."

Sugg operates now as the Sonoma Patient Group, organized last summer
as an unincorporated non-profit collective. Jewel Mathieson, wife of
Sonoma Mayor Ken Brown, is an employee and member of that group, and
she addressed the commission, saying, "Members must be able to get
their medication. We should stop the regulations on medicine and stop
ignoring the desperate alcohol problem in the valley." The submission
by Sugg of seven pages of recommendations for a new ordinance led the
commission to table the issue to a future meeting, so the
recommendations could be reviewed. The final assessment came from
commissioner George: "People think we are intentionally trying to put
setbacks in place. We are not; our primary concern is community needs."

In a subsequent interview, Sugg expressed his hope that the planning
commission would, at its regular meeting on April 9, move the matter
on to the city council with its recommendations. His group is ready to
apply for a permit as soon as the new ordinance is adopted, though he
expects that there may be other groups interested, as well, in a
Sonoma location.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin